Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference kicked off with a bang this morning …

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Phil Schiller started the WWDC keynote by detailing a revamped line of notebooks. Along with a number of hardware updates, the entire line got price cuts across the board, bringing pricing more in line with comparable PC laptops.

Apple has taken the sealed battery of the MacBook Air and 17" MacBook Pro and added it to the rest of the unibody machines. While some people are opposed to a nonchangeable battery, Schiller claimed that by making the battery nonchangeable, Apple can power its laptops for up to 7 hours per charge, and last for up to three times longer than similar replaceable batteries. He also noted that Apple has a recycling program via its retail stores for those that do need a replacement.

There are other interesting changes as well. The 15" MacBook Pro has had its ExpressCard slot replaced with an SD memory card slot. "An increasing number of customers use digital cameras, and they prefer using the SD card slot instead of USB," said Schiller. More notably, the 13" unibody MacBook has finally been given the MacBook Pro name, also getting an SD card slot as well as a FireWire 800 port to complete its transformation to a "pro" machine.

These improvements come with price reductions across the board. The 13" MacBook Pro (née MacBook) will start at $1199, the 15" MacBook Pro will start at $1699, and the 17" MacBook Pro will start at $2499—the latter two offer a $300 cut. The MacBook Air will also get a $300 cut to start at $1499, and a version with SSD will start at $1799, a $700 price cut. Clearly, Apple is paying attention to Microsoft's recent "Laptop Hunters" ads.

We'll post updates as they happen. Be sure to check Infinite Loop for detailed coverage later today.

I cannot believe Apple get's press for this. Or even more surprising Apple user's are even interested. I have had a SD reader on my PC laptop for years.The non user battery on all laptops is a Apple marketing scheme if their ever was one. So just think to yourself when your battery starts wearing out. Should you send it to Apple and give up your laptop for a week or just buy a new laptop? Brilliant I say Apple. That's one way to get your customers to keep buying new. Needless to say their is a reason that PC laptops are not going to no access batteries and its not because they don't like battery life.It's because people want to be able to fix their laptop without sending it somewhere! Nice of Apple to offer Snow Leopard for a bargain. I just they just did not think anyone would believe its anymore then a service pack that Microsoft provides for FREE!! Sorry Apple I quit buying your crappy and frequent operating systems a long time ago. At least you can use Windows OS for years without buying a upgrade. I could rant all day but Apple's not worth it.

While I personally would never want a non-user-serviceable battery, I know a *lot* of people out there who don't ever make use of it.

The batteries tend to be proprietary and expensive. By the time the original battery wears out, a replacement is rare and even more expensive. Most people I know using really old laptops mainly use them on AC power.

Now, this makes the Apple laptops even less suitable for use in a major enterprise. In the enterprise market, old laptops *are* re-used and new batteries for old laptops are a requirement.

Everything was going so well and then it turned out the batteries don't come out anymore. Sadly, this ends my mac laptop experience, since I generally go through a battery a year. And no, I don't care that they claim it will last 5, it sure as hell won't with my usage patterns.

SD is nice, although a multi-card reader would be better.But what I don't like about it (not that I own or intend to buy a MacBook (Pro)) is: Without ExpressCard, you have to rely on USB sticks for WWAN / 3G because Apple STILL (!!) doesn't make a laptop with integrated WWAN! Can't believe it! Shouldn't be that hard to include an internal mini PC Card slot...

Originally posted by Kani:Allow me to express my rage here:GOD DAMN YOU APPLE!

Everything was going so well and then it turned out the batteries don't come out anymore. Sadly, this ends my mac laptop experience, since I generally go through a battery a year. And no, I don't care that they claim it will last 5, it sure as hell won't with my usage patterns.

Just out of curiosity, what are your usage patterns?

And wouldn't they replace batteries under warranty for the sealed laptops anyway?

For any batteries I need, I buy from battery monster on ebay. Besides, all batteries are made with either Sony or Samsung cells and are assembled in China anyhow; they make it seem that the OEM ones are somehow better made than non OEM ones.

But what makes them hold such a high charge? Is it because they can stick a high capacity battery inside the laptop since no packaging is necessary?

I seriously doubt a new battery is cheap either, although it wasn't too out of line from what others charge.

Besides, all batteries are made with either Sony or Samsung cells and are assembled in China anyhow; they make it seem that the OEM ones are somehow better made than non OEM ones.

These will be the mouldable do-dads that they've been using in the Air and the 17". Don't think these are cell based.I think the fact that they can use all the space efficiently is what gives them the extra capacity. Downside is they're not user exchangeable.

All of you battery people have to realize that you can head over to an Apple store and have the battery replaced right there and then. You don't have to ship it away or anything. You make an appointment online, head down, and have the computer back within an hour or two.

Originally posted by Game_Ender:All of you battery people have to realize that you can head over to an Apple store and have the battery replaced right there and then. You don't have to ship it away or anything. You make an appointment online, head down, and have the computer back within an hour or two.

Though that doesn't help if you're frequently on the go and need a 2nd battery.

The other thing is how long is the warantee on the battery? Will it be covered under Apple Care (if so, that would, actually, be a pretty good reason to get AC).

Well the only people complaining currently were talking about replacing the batteries not using two of them. If you use multiple batteries you are out of luck unless you use a magsafe compatible power battery pack. I think http://www.batterygeek.net/ might make one.

orldwide Developer's Conference kicked off with a bang this morning as Apple announced new, lower-priced versions of its popular notebook computers. In addition, the company detailed its plans for Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iPhone OS 3.0, and new iPhone hardware.

Up front - I hate windows and osx equally. I do not discriminate more in either direction.

That being said...I'm actually pretty happy about the price reduction.

If what they claim about the battery is true, then by the time I'd need to replace said battery, I'd be up for a hardware refresh, anyway.

Is there really that much to complain about? It seems that for the longest time, we had people complaining about the "apple tax". Its more or less been eliminated, and now we have people taking picky shots at lesser hardware features.

a 15" laptop with integrated graphics costs 1700USD? How is that a price drop in any sense of the word.

Anyways, the 13" aluminums are looking more attractive now, and the 15" are just being completely gutted.

And I guess those of us who would like a bigger screen (17") as a "portable desktop replacement" around the house for basic surfing, word processing and maybe the odd video watching (and/or MLB.com) are just SOL? $2500 for a 17"? WTF?

Originally posted by Game_Ender:All of you battery people have to realize that you can head over to an Apple store and have the battery replaced right there and then. You don't have to ship it away or anything. You make an appointment online, head down, and have the computer back within an hour or two.

Apple Stores aren't available everywhere, so that's not an option for everyone. There isn't a single Apple Store in my entire country.

It's not an issue that really affects me (I'm not a heavy laptop user anyway), but it is significant issue for some people and Apple Stores aren't always a viable solution.